Tottenham to offer Jan Vertonghen new contract as Tim Sherwood bids to protect top assets amid Champions League concerns

Tottenham are preparing to offer Jan Vertonghen a new deal at White Hart Lane with boss Tim Sherwood concerned stars will quit the club if they fail to reach the Champions League.

Spurs are currently fifth in the Premier League, three points behind Liverpool, but have Everton hot on their heels.

And having seen a host of players arrive at the club in the summer, many of whom were accustomed to playing at the top level of European football, Sherwood admits members of his squad may quit the club if they don’t finish in the top four this term.

‘It’s always a risk [losing the players]. But Tottenham are a massive club and will always attract the biggest name players. If players are coming here to build and progress with the side, they will pick Tottenham,’ he said.

Tim Sherwood is concerned some top players could quit Spurs (Picture: Getty)

‘At other clubs, these players will go and sit on bench and pick up championship medals, which is not what I would have done. This club sell themselves and are bigger than any manager.

‘It’s a massive club, and players will come if they want. They know full well what this club can offer. If the be-all and end-all is the Champions League and we’re not in it, they have to make a decision.’

In a bid to tie some of their most important players down to the club, Spurs are believed to be ready to offer improved contracts over the coming weeks, starting with defender Vertonghen.

It was reported earlier in the season the Belgian was unhappy having been moved to left-back, with some of Europe’s top sides circling.

But Sherwood and the Spurs board want to ward off any interest for the 26-year-old and are prepared to offer him around £60,000-a-week to move him in-line with the club’s top earners.